How Fat May Hurt the Brain, and How Exercise May Help • Hacker News Board

Re: How Fat May Hurt the Brain, and How Exercise May Help

#51

Post by leobelle » Fri, Mar 07, 2014, 6:17 PM UTC

dragonwriter wrote: post #49

leobelle wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get up at 4 am every day and eat breakfast. I still overeat. I've swung back and forth between 280lbs and 220lbs for the last 5 years. I'm currently around 250lbs. I've been under 260lbs for almost 2 years now and I still have to starve myself constantly to get back down to 220lbs even though I sleep well. Nothing works. It's all pain. I eat too much and I'm miserable or I eat just enough or too little and I'm mise…

> I've been under 260lbs for almost 2 years now and I still have to starve myself constantly to get back down to 220lbs even though I sleep well. I weigh more than you but I've been successfully (if slowly, for most of the time) losing weight for several years, after having lots of the same kind of problems you describe before that. What seems to be working for me is: 1) Eat lots of non-starchy vegetables, especially…

I definitely am not eating enough vegetables and too much starch, which I know I have to change. Thanks for your other tips.

Re: How Fat May Hurt the Brain, and How Exercise May Help

#52

Post by leobelle » Fri, Mar 07, 2014, 6:18 PM UTC

yen223 wrote: post #30

leobelle wrote: post #25

Yeah well it's not like I love being fat. We all know fat is bad, and I wish I had less of it, but it's not like my adipose is going to go away by scaring it with more bad news about why it sucks to be fat. Once you're fat, not being fat anymore is a really hard problem, which is why fat people aren't really known for eventually being skinny some day again, but there's a high prevalence of skinny people who once were…

Put it this way, at least you have a fucking choice. Sincerely, a short guy.

Misery isn't a zero sum game. We can all have infinite amounts of misery.

Re: How Fat May Hurt the Brain, and How Exercise May Help

#53

Post by dromidas » Fri, Mar 07, 2014, 6:56 PM UTC

Let some scientist surgically install 'fat pads' on you and then let you try some cognitive tests that require you to walk around and lets see if your performance seems 'clouded'.

Re: How Fat May Hurt the Brain, and How Exercise May Help

#54

Post by robodale » Fri, Mar 07, 2014, 9:41 PM UTC

leobelle wrote: post #25

Yeah well it's not like I love being fat. We all know fat is bad, and I wish I had less of it, but it's not like my adipose is going to go away by scaring it with more bad news about why it sucks to be fat. Once you're fat, not being fat anymore is a really hard problem, which is why fat people aren't really known for eventually being skinny some day again, but there's a high prevalence of skinny people who once were…

You are definitely not 'fucked'. What others are saying - it's all about habits...and these can be changed. It sounds like your mindset is such that since you are fat...you are fat. For you, it's not about eating less, exercising more...it's going to be changing that underlying destructive thought process of yours.

...says the skinny guy.

Re: How Fat May Hurt the Brain, and How Exercise May Help

#55

Post by robodale » Fri, Mar 07, 2014, 9:43 PM UTC

laichzeit0 wrote: post #28

leobelle wrote: post #25

Yeah well it's not like I love being fat. We all know fat is bad, and I wish I had less of it, but it's not like my adipose is going to go away by scaring it with more bad news about why it sucks to be fat. Once you're fat, not being fat anymore is a really hard problem, which is why fat people aren't really known for eventually being skinny some day again, but there's a high prevalence of skinny people who once were…

And for skinny people trying to gain weight it's the exact opposite. Trying to eat at a 500 calorie surplus feels like you're constantly full to the point of discomfort, you shit 3 times a day and you're spending about 2 hours a day just eating, such an awful waste of time.

I did this while training for my marathon. I'd bring a giant bag of food every day...just to maintain weight.

Re: How Fat May Hurt the Brain, and How Exercise May Help

#56

Post by robodale » Fri, Mar 07, 2014, 9:47 PM UTC

ramblerman wrote: post #41

leobelle wrote: post #25

Yeah well it's not like I love being fat. We all know fat is bad, and I wish I had less of it, but it's not like my adipose is going to go away by scaring it with more bad news about why it sucks to be fat. Once you're fat, not being fat anymore is a really hard problem, which is why fat people aren't really known for eventually being skinny some day again, but there's a high prevalence of skinny people who once were…

What a load of self pitying drivel. I hope no one takes your self justifications seriously as a reason to not attempt getting healthy.

I'm with you. Healthy is (largely) a choice. It's a 3-legged stool though (food, exercise, rest/sleep)...fuck up any one of those and you and your goals simply fall over.

Re: How Fat May Hurt the Brain, and How Exercise May Help

#57

Post by com2kid » Mon, Mar 10, 2014, 9:30 AM UTC

leobelle wrote: post #51

dragonwriter wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've been under 260lbs for almost 2 years now and I still have to starve myself constantly to get back down to 220lbs even though I sleep well. I weigh more than you but I've been successfully (if slowly, for most of the time) losing weight for several years, after having lots of the same kind of problems you describe before that. What seems to be working for me is: 1) Eat lots of non-starchy vegetables, especially…

I definitely am not eating enough vegetables and too much starch, which I know I have to change. Thanks for your other tips.

> I definitely am not eating enough vegetables and too much starch, which I know I have to change.

To reemphasize this, for some people, eating carbs will never fill them up! I am one of those people for sure, I'll eat cookies until I am physically ill, but I will never be satiated!

Think about this question: Which can you eat more of, twice baked potatoes stuffed with goodies, or just steak?

Next time you sit down for a meal, eat the 10oz sirloin first, before the potatoes. Then wait a few minutes and see how you feel!

Also make sure to avoid "healthy" foods that are anything but.

Bananas are a good example of this. Aside from some potassium, they are no more healthy for you than a candy bar! Granola bars are another great example of "healthy" food that leaves you feeling hungry! (I don't know about you, but I've never been "filled up" from granola bars! I know people who can be, but I am not one of them!) Finally, anything with the word "juice" in it should be avoided!

Finally, realize that your environment is one of the single largest factors in helping you achieve your health goals. Everyone says it is motivation, but hell, odds are you are plenty motivated. Feeling like crap and wanting not to is damned good motivation. But following through, ah, there is the hard part!

Environment matters. I got rid of all snack food from my house. All of it. Eating at home now involves zero willpower. My fridge has nothing but raw food that I need to cook. I have will power for all of the 5 minutes I am grocery shopping each day. If I am too lazy to cook my food, I go hungry, it is that simple. Each day on the way back from work I buy exactly the food I need to cook the meal for that day. (And yes, guests get used to this! "Sorry we have exactly the right amount of this awesome home made food!")